I have builders hands and strength is not an issue (and having hands "trained" for other working positions can be a drawback). I can use brute strength but it is a) tiring and b) not conducive to altering position easily. This might build up finger strength initially but I've seen another video on barre chords that said to use your fretting hand as a clamp ( a la capo) with the thumb grinding down on the neck is not the best idea, i.e. fatigue and fluidity issues. The offered solution was to let the "weight" of your arm pull your fingers into the fretboard by relaxing your shoulder (in fact, try to keep the arm relaxed as possible). It sounds odd, but having tried it, it definitely made a difference! Another thing that might help: as a beginner you get used to angling the top of the guitar back to see what your hands are doing. Great for line of sight, not so great for fretting, as your fingers have to reach further round the neck to play the EAD strings. So try to keep the guitar more on the vertical plane; I've found this improves my sounding of barre chords as well as more complex open chords.
Agree, I’m struggling with tensing up on a challenging chord getting tired quick. Sounds like many things in life; relax and don’t force it ;) I checked the amount of pressure I really need to make a string sound good, it’s way less than I thought.
Thank you Justin I’ve been playing for a year but got stuck on strum patterns I know like 21 chords and can play them really clear I’ve learned how to play wish you were here . I watched your video about being stuck in a rut it made me feel so good to know that was normal to feel like that and I’ve been watching your strumming videos just started practicing on those I’ve always wanted to play guitar tried it when I was younger and just thought I didn’t have talent to play . But I am 58 now and I am determined to play and I won’t stop till I learn. You have the best teaching videos believe me I’ve seen everyone’s videos you are definitely the best at teaching. I can’t thank you enough.
Hi I have been learning about 15 months, I am 55 and also tried playing as a child. I really love it but I struggle with Barre chords it sounds like your doing well. It would be really good if there was some sort of forum where people like us could message each other for ideas and support.
@@clairebradshaw6592 there is a great community for just this purpose over at Justin’s website. You’ll also find also his lessons and some streamline tutorials and learning packages. And much of it is free!
@Claire Bradshaw I'm with you on the comment. I'm also 55 n just been playing for a year or two. If you could recommend other good tutorials you've used I'd appreciate it. It's very soothing n relaxing playing the guitar isn't it ???
I think you get used to the particular E shaped grip eventually but I think it’s when you play a song with barre chords then if you haven’t learned your notes on your top two strings there will inevitably be a pause trying to find where you should be sliding your fingers to play that particular song.The A shaped barre chord is indeed a toughy for some( me).Excellent lesson.
Thank you for everything you generously give Justin. 6 weeks into this guitar gig. Bought your app, on grade 2, watch here regularly and chat in the community. Now onto that horrid F. Pftt. My god it’s a cow and no matter how much I try, still cannot get it. Just praying like mad it’s not going to beat me
@@ramiroabrego9382 good luck Ramiro. It killed me 40 years ago, so stopped learning but now at 57 (this week 🤨) it’s NOT going to do it again and it won’t for you either. We can BOTH do it! Good luck
I thought i would never get it at all before when i started last year. If you really don't have the strength to do it.. use your strumming arm to push thr guitar neck into the fretting hand. Also remember you don't really need to press all the strings down with your first finger. Another thing i to note was when i first started i had purchase a super cheap classical guitar i found at liquidation. It was only 20 dollars. For a beginner its problematic. One is the action is really high. Two is the neck is really wide. I thought it was just me that couldn't get the f chord or any barres. Get a regular dreadnought acoustic or something. Learning on it wss a lot easier than a garbage guitar
@@me-fv5xb that’s the problem. I just don’t know how to get my first finger onto the fret of the first E string, then have it arched up enough to not touch the others, then muting the B and E. It seems scientifically impossible. I know it’s obviously not but bloody hell, it feels impossible. Thank you though. I appreciate anyone helping.
I am curious to know your opinion on the actual setup of the acoustic guitar and its impact on barre chords. I believe most acoustics are sold with high action (say, 5mm at the 12th fret), which should probably be lowered (to say, approximately 2.5mm), therefore allowing beginners to play barre chords on higher frets without having to press down so much. Of course, lowering the action also has the effect of possibly introducing a fret-buzz, so it should be done judiciously by a good luthier.
You are so great Justin, but there is nothing "Easy" about barre chords. Nothing! It seems like no matter how I lay my index finger, one string always seems to fall right in a knuckle joint and thumps out. Sighhhh!
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Absolutely incredible! Absolutely Phenomenal! Absolutely Wonderful!! 🔝💯🎵👌👌👌 Thank you, Always for all of your unbelievably immense supports, Justin brother🙏😇 You Are Magnificent❤👌.
The F barre is always impossible for me, because my index finger joint is directly over the string, meaning it isn't being pressed down full when I can actually firmly put my fingers on the remaining strings. I've tried many times over the years and I just can't do it.
Maybe your thumb is in the wrong position. You use the thumb to press against the back of the neck and that lets your index finger be pressed down. You can't just use your index finger and hope to press is down full. Hope that helps.
Geez, I just started playing last night 4/14/23 and I already hate barre chords. I know though, if I can get to the point of switching from one to another, it'll be a major step.
I m glad you said that about the bar finger only playing the e strings or a and e strings I've been convinced for ages that I was playing them wrong with the bar finger I could hear the chord covering the 6th and 1st string with the bar finger and saying to my self no that's wrong your meant to bar all the strings and the chord did not play good at all when it turns out I have been playing bar chords correct for some time and not using them because I thought they was wrong quite a dumb moment I think and frustration that I could have gone further with my playing and the only thing that stopped me was me breath start again
Been playing for 20years and I love the A shape and find it easy and great to try out different strumming patterns while muting and so on. The E shape has always been my problem as I find it almost impossible to move my horribe pinky back to Dstring and it's always late. Tried anything thru the years and it has always held me back from being decent to a really good guitarist. No problems with major and minor 7s too. I don't know of anything that has frustrated me more thru my life than my fcuking pinky. Not many guitarists understand this problem as I don't think it's all that common.
One thing that is tripping me up is the major minor sharp and flat. I was under the impression that major is sharp, minor is flat. But that's not the case at all, is it? Which of your courses would address the topic the best? Or do I need to just start at the beginning? I know all the open chords in both major and minor, the notes of all the top 3 strings and the minor pentatonic. When I am jamming to a backing track, I always choose the key of E or A so I know where my boxes are located! I have 5 boxes on my 24 fret Ibanez, only 4 on my 21 fret Strat. And 1-4, 1-3, 1-3, 1-3, 1-4, 1-4 are what I mean with boxes. That's it, that is my knowledge base. I can play Rock & Roll All Night (Kiss) Just What I Needed (The Cars) and Breaking the Law (Judas Priest) from start to finish (the rhythm, not solos) What say you my new internet friend?
Learning the E shape barre (like the F chord) is a major milestone when learning guitar. Many guitarists hit a plateau in their progress when trying to conquer it | Check this lesson: 30 minutes of tips to help you. www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-major-4b-001 | As soon as you got an idea wht the major is about, go for the minor. A major chord uses the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. The minor just flattens that 3rd with one semitone. | www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/e-shape-minor-barre-chords-4b-002 | Of course, you can apply this to open chords as well | www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/making-major-chord-grips-into-minors-mt-406 | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide, Approved Teacher & Community Moderator
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You can request songs on the website; one song request per week: www.justinguitar.com/songs#requests-board | you can vote on other songs as well. | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide, Approved Teacher & Community Moderator
